Loose-leaf binder



. E. L. KIIAG.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4, Isls.

W20 /fI/'f@ di @m lUNITI-1D-vSffA'fS @FWB t Enix L. KRAG, or CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.A Y

Loose-LEAF BINDER.

i I Specification ef Letters'Patent.vvv .iPateliltedseptfZ/m 1921.

` Application ined November 14," 1918.1 "ser'iaifno. ,aeas'izl simple, cheap, durable. `and effective looseleaf binder of the type in which counterpart leaf-holding prongs are mounted upon' opposing binding members hinged to each other for holdingl interposed leaves. vIn

forming structures of this lrind itis neces.-V

sary -to construct Lthe cover proper with its supporting vor stiffening members andthe intermediate binding Vand .locking 'portions separately andthen attachvv them together so as to form an operative whole.V My aim is to so construct said coverlsupporting members and cover thereforas 4to vpresent a finished and attractiveV appearance .when `completed without having objectionable rivet heads or parts of other fastening devices projecting therefrom, `at the same time providing and arranging such fastening devices as to eng able the cover members proper ,to be quickly and rmly attached to the binding members, as the result of afsingle operation; all of which is V,hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims:

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1, is an end view in detail of the cover supporting members` as they would appear when detached vbut in the relative positions which they would assume with respect to each other when the binder is closed.

Fig. 2, is an end view partly in section of a binder as it would appear with the parts in locked relation, the covers being open and broken away,

Fig. 3, is an end view as it would appear when unlocked and partly open, and

Fig. 4, is a transverse section through one of the metal cover-supports, showing a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 desig-y nate the cover supporting or stifening members which are preferably formed from sheet-metal corresponding in length to that of the cover. Said members are provided respectively with inturned flanges 3 and 4,.

which 'are extended toward each other with an intervening space between them. Filling or thickening members 5, y6, corresponding inf, length to said stiffening members and preferably formed from paste-board or wood, are secured tothe inner faces of said stiffeni'ng members. In the` preferred construction for large binders, flat-headed rivets 7, 8, are used, which have their heads countersunk in themembers 1 and 2 with the bodies extending therethroughv and' through the members 5 and 6 andk projecting `inwardly therefrom for the purpose hereinaf-y ter stated.4 When the parts 1, 5 and 7 and 2,v

6 and',8,` respectively, are thus assembled, the cover-support`s 1 and 5 and 2 and 6 have a covering. 9, of leather, cloth. canvas or ,other suitable material applied, by means of kan adhesive medium, upon opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, so. as to 1inclose said members whilev connecting them by means of an intermediate liexible connection 10. Said covering materialis also extended over the usual stifening lids 11, 12, so as to provide ordinary intervening hinged portions 13 and 14. When the parts are thus assembled the heads of the rivets 7 and'8 are hidden beneathy a smooth out-'er surface and theparts are in condition to be connected tothe binding membersproper, indicated generally by 15 and 16. Said members are vformed from sheet-metal having primary portions 17, 18, hinged together at 1,9. Said members are bent laterally in opposite directions at 20 and 21 at right angles to their respective planes and again at 22 and 23, thus forming secondary portions 24 and 25 and flange portions 26 and 27 which are provided with, suitable perforations kto receive fastening devices such for example, as the projecting rivets 7 and 8, respectively.

Sheet metal plates 28, 29, are rigidly attached respectively to the flanges 26 and 27 `by means of rivets 30 and 31, and are provided with the usual counterpart prongs 32, 33, which are rigidly attached thereto to hold loose leaves in place when the binding membersare locked together. A slidable lockingsmember 34 consisting of a flat elongated bar is yloosely secured in suitable guides 35 upon the outer face of the member 25. Said bar is provided with one or more detents 36, adapted to enter slots inthe part 17, so as to engage the latter and lock the parts 17 and 18 together in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. Said locking bar may be held in a normal position by means of a coiled-spring ina well known way and is provided with a hardle portion 37, to enable it to beactuate In assembling the parts, the rivets 7 and 8` of which there may be two or more for e'ach of these parts 1 and 2, are projected through the perforations in the flanges 26 and 27, and washers 38, 39, placed thereon,when said rivets may be upset, thereby permanently securing the binding and cover memberstogether. It is obvious that this may be done by a single operation, thus reducing thecost of assembling to a minimum,

In Fig. 4, I have shown amodified means for connecting the cover-supports with the binding members. In lieu of the rivets 7 and 8, elongated lugs-40, may be cut from the metal members 1 and 2 by means of a die and bent inwardly at right angles to the body of the metal so asjto extendthrough openings in registration therewith in the flanges 26 and 27. Thus, when the parts are assembled, said lugs may be bent `or fiattened upon the innerk faces of said flanges, thereby holding the latter rigidly in place. Having thus described .y my invention,- I claim:` Y v V Y 1. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of pivotally' connected angular inner binding members having oppositey side `flange portions adapted to extend in substantially parallel relation to each other when in normal closed position, andA each provided with perforations for receiving fastening means, a pair of rigid angular cover-supporting members spaced apart at their rear margins, each of said rigid angular cover-supportingmembers comprising in its construction av rigid main body portion located'outside of and in parallel relation to a perforated flange portion of a corresponding inner angular binding member,A fastening means on said main body portions of said rigid angular coversupporting members and extending into said Aperforations in the inner pivotally connected angular binding members, and:Y flexible covering material upon the said rigid angular cover-supporting members and covering said fastening means and said rigid angular cover-supporting members, and forming a flexible connection between the spaced apart rear marginsv of the latter.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a pair of rigid cover-supporting members having parallel side portionsV each adapted to be connected with a cover leaf,r each of said rigid cover-supporting members having a rear'portion extending toward but. spaced apart With respect tothe opposite rigid i cover-supporting member, a pair ofv pivotally connected u inner. flanged Vbinding Vmembers connected with said side portionsiof said rigid cover-supporting members, flexible eov- I ering material upon both sides of and covering said rigid cover-supporting members and forming inner and outer flexible conneeting hinge portions between the rear margins of said rigid cover-supporting members,

and means for locking said pivotally connected inner flanged binding members together.

Intestimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this twelfth day of November, 1918. Y ERIK L. KRAG. lVitnesses: e

Davrn H. FLETCHER, W. HARD'ING., 

